American Gods by Neil Gaiman

This was a wonderfully crafted tale that engrossed and entertained me.

In creating a world in which gods are flesh and blood, Neil taps into the American psyche: We are each the undiscovered heroes of the next blockbuster movie.

Although Shadow, the antagonist, feels two-dimensional at times, I believe this is intentional and refreshing. None of us are perky all the time. A slouching hulk of a man, rocked by the infidelity and death of his wife, Shadow endears himself to us by not over-reacting to events that would make most characters question their sanity. Because he is painted as half-dead inside, the reader believes his account of having a zombie-wife, god-friends, and having died and returned.

A masterful piece of fiction with beautiful snippets of stories such as the fiddler’s ruse worked in for good measure. The twist at the end clinched the story and earned Neil Gaiman my deepest respect. Thank you for a wonderful tale.